Combined cup, stand and handle for beverage cans



June 10, 1958 c. P. HUETHER 2,838,202

COMBINED CUP, STAND AND HANDLE F OR BEVERAGE CANS Filed Jan. 11, 1957 INVENTOR harles Hueth'er ATT EY United States Patent our, STAND AND HANDLE'FOR BEVERAGE CANS comma) The present invention relates to devices adapted to facilitate drinking a beverage directly from the can in which it is contained, and, more particularly, to such a device having a combined cup, stand and handle.

Heretofore, devices have been proposed which serve as an aid for drinking a beverage contained in a conventional cylindrical can. Also, devices have been proposed for serving as an handle for cups and the like. However, in spite of such devices, no practical device has been suggested which serves as a combined cup or drinking aid, a stand and a handle for a beverage can which in effect converts the can into a stein.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a device which serves as a drinking aid or cup, a stand to give the can better -support, and a handle to facilitate handling a can as a stein? in drinking therefrom.

Another object is to provide such a device wherein the cup and stand can be used interchangeably.

Another object is to provide such a device wherein the handle is adjustable to accommodate cans of a different height.

Another object is to provide such a device in different ways of construction and arrangement.

A further object is to provide such a device wherein the cup is flared to degasi'fy a pressurized beverage.

A still further object is to accomplish the foregoing in a simple, practical and economical manner.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of an attachment for a can, in accordance with the present invention, the can being shown in broken lines, and the attachment being constructed of individually formed members.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, wherein the attachment is formed of a single member comprising the elements thereof integrally constructed.

Fig. 3 is a'view similar to Figs. 1 and 2, wherein the attachment is constructed and arranged to be used in connection with cans varying in height.

Referring to the drawing in detail, there is shown in Fig. 1 an attachment or device which generally comprises a pair of generally cup-shaped members and 11 adapted for attachment to the respective ends of a cylindrical beverage can 12, and a handle 14 secured to the members 10 and 11 at its ends thereof. In this embodiment of the present invention, the cup-shaped members and the handle are formed individually and the members are secured to the handle by suitable means such as screws 15.

The handle 14 may be constructed of any suitable material such as wood, metal or plastic resin, but preferably is constructed of the same material as the cup-shaped members about to be described in detail.

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In Fig. 2, another embodiment of the: present invention is shown wherein the cup-shaped members as formed integrally, for example, are molded from a plastic resin. i In Figs. 1 and 2, the cup-shaped members are con- 'structed of a plastic resin such as polyethylene or the like which is adapted to be frictiona'lly-secured to the can. Preferably, these members have an end portion or skirt 16 adapted to fit over the upper and lower ends of the can, respectively, and have an internal rib-or bead 17 adapted to fit against the rim of the can to form a liquid tight seal. These members are also formed with a flared portion 18 adapted to serve as a drinkingaid or. as a stand for the can, but preferably these portions are constructed to both serveas a drinking aid and a stand.

The portions 18 in their preferred form are inclined or flared at an angle of between about 15 and about 30 with respect to the side wall of the can; and extend from the rib for a distance of between about three-quarters of an inch and about one inch to provide a cup above an opening punched into the top of the can having a capacity to receive a substantial quantity of the beverage as it flows from the can opening to the rim of the cup. The cups by being so dimensioned enable a carbonated beverage to be degasificd sufficiently to drink the same without the highly undesirable gaseous effect which is experienced when such beverages are consumed directly from the can.

In Fig. 3, cup-shaped members 10 and 11 are shown which are constructed in substantially the same manner as those already described, except that, these members are provided with handle sections 14a and14b,'respectively. The handle section 14a is formed with a groove, recess or bore 20 extending lengthwise thereof, and the handle section 14b is formed with elongate rod-like element 21 slidably received by the bore 20 or the like, whereby the effective length of the handle may be varied to enable the cups to be attached to cans of a different height, for example, regular twelve ounce cans or King Size sixteen ounce cans. Preferably, a friction fit is provided between the handle section connecting means by bumps 22 on the element 21 to prevent free sliding thereof when the device is in use, which fit is supplemented by grasping the handle to further eliminate unintentional sliding and accidental separation of the handle sections. g

The handle sections may be formed integral with the cups as shown in Fig. 3, or may be separately formed and integrally secured as indicated in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides an improved device for holding a can while drinking therefrom which can be made in sizes to fit cans of different diameters and a different height and can be made adjustable to fit cans of the same diameter and a different height. The cup-shaped members serve as a drinking aid or as a stand or coaster. All of this is accomplished in a simple, practical and convenient manner.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative an not in any limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In an attachment for beverage cans, the combination of a pair of generally circular members each having a flared wall formed with circular edge at one end disposed I in a horizontal plane and having a cylindrical skirt portion at the other end adapted for attachment to the ends of a cylindrical beverage can, both of which are adapted to serve as a stand for the can and as a drinking aid receptacle' for receiving the beverage poured out of an opening in the upper end of the can to facilitate drinking the same whereby said members are interchangeable with respect said members formed to extend along the side of the can and spaced therefrom to facilitate grasping the same.

2. An attachment according to claim 1, wherein both of said members have a rib disposed in a horizontal plane and inwardly adjacent said skirt portion for engagingan end of the can. i

3. An attachment according to claim 1, wherein said members and said handle are formed individually, and means are provided for. securing said handle to said memher.

4. An attachment according to claim 1, wherein said members and said handle are formed integrally as a unit.

5. An attachment according to claim 1, wherein each of said members has a handle portion secured thereto and said handle portions have means for slidably connecting the same, whereby the length of said handle can be varied to enable said members to be attached to cans of a different height.

6. An attachment according to claim 5, wherein said 4 handle portions are formed integral with said members, respectively.

7. An attachment according to claim 6, wherein one of said handle portions has a recess extending lengthwise thereof and said other handle portion has an element adapted to be slidably received by said recess.

8. An attachment according to claim 1, wherein said drinking aid member is flared at an angle to degasify a carbonated beverage as the beverage flows from a hole in the can to the drinking edge of said member at the end of the can where the hole is formed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,166,209 Hofiman Dec. 28, 1915 1,373,695 Wright Apr. 5, 1921 FOREIGN PATENTS 277,569 Great Britain of 1927 

